Calla Lily Plant Named &#39;Alice Springs&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Alice Springs’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having light yellow colored spathes that produces 5-13 flowers per tuber. The flower stems are about 44-53 cm in height. The leaves are green without whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/766,205, having a filing date of Oct. 4, 2018,and entitled “Varieties of Z. sprengeri Calla Lily Plants”, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Alice Springs’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Alice Springs’.

‘Alice Springs’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which hadthe objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower productionin a wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. Thebreeding program began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedlingselected from the crossing of Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling Z020314(female parent, unpatented) with Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling Z030217(male parent, unpatented). ‘Alice Springs’ was selected in 2009 by theinventor in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Alice Springs’ by tissueculture was performed by the inventor in September of 2011 in ‘t Zand,The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture atthe same location have demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retainedand reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown from 12 to 14 weeks in 14 cm pots in ‘t Zand, The Netherlandsunder greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used inhorticultural practice. Color references are made to The 2001 R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, 4^(th)Edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance areused.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Alice Springs’ which, in combination,distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Absence of leaf maculation;

2. Lanceolate leaf shape; and

3. Large inflorescences.

Table 1 provides a comparison of ‘Alice Springs’ to its parents, as wellas Zantedeschia sprengeri variety ‘Sunclub’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.27,891).

TABLE 1 Trait Variety Relationship differences Description ‘Alice Newvariety Spathe color Upper surface is between Springs’ RHS 2A-2B Plantheight 44-53 cm Z020314 Female parent Spathe color Upper surface betweenRHS 1A-1B Plant height 33-50 cm Z030217 Male parent Spathe color BetweenRHS 60D-61C Plant height 35-52 cm ‘Sunclub’ Known variety Spathe colorUpper surface varies between RHS 12A-12B Plant height 15-45 cm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Type: Deciduous.-   Size:    -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—40-51 cm.        -   Height of top of inflorescences above the soil.—44-53 cm.        -   Diameter.—52-66 cm.        -   Form.—Semi-spreading.-   Number of inflorescences per tuber:    -   -   Size 14-16 cm in diameter.—5-13 inflorescences.-   Branches:    -   -   Number.—Plentiful.        -   Color.—Green Group RHS 141C.        -   Young shoot color.—Green Group RHS 143C.-   Leaves:-   Size:    -   -   Width.—8.5-10 cm, with the broadest part of the leaf blade            far below the middle.        -   Length.—22-24 cm.        -   Number per plant.—19-29.        -   Leaf blade lobes.—Present; having a length of 4.5-6.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire; having a color of Green Group RHS 137B.-   Color:    -   -   Upper surface.—Green Group RHS 137B, with no maculations            present.        -   Lower surface.—Green Group RHS 137C, with no maculations            present.-   Veins:    -   -   Configuration.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Green Group RHS 139C.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth (both surfaces).-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—20-25 cm.        -   Color.—The base is Greyed-Purple Group RHS 183B, the upper            part is Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A.-   Roots:    -   -   Color.—White Group RHS 155D.        -   Branching description.—Fibrous root system. Several main            roots emerge from the top of the tuber and form a small            number of lateral roots.-   Spathe:-   Size:    -   -   Length (measured from opening to tip).—6.5-8.5 cm.        -   Width.—5.5-8 cm.        -   Height.—12-14 cm.-   Color:    -   -   Throat spot.—Absent.        -   Upper surface.—Between Yellow Group RHS 2A and 2B.        -   Lower surface.—Yellow-Green Group RHS N144C.        -   Vein color.—Yellow Group RHS 4A.        -   Shape.—Funnel.-   Spadix:-   Size:    -   -   Length.—25-35 mm.        -   Diameter.—15-20 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow Group RHS 12A.        -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright.-   Peduncle:-   Size:    -   -   Length.—45-58 cm.        -   Diameter.—20-25 mm.        -   Color.—The upper and lower parts are Yellow-Green Group RHS            144A.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.        -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.        -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.-   Stamens:    -   -   Presence.—Not visible before pollen release.        -   Number.—Between 480 and 600.        -   Pollen amount.—Abundant; similar to ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant            Pat. No. 15,282).        -   Color.—Between White Group RHS 155B and 155C.-   Anther:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Color.—Between Yellow Group RHS 8B and 8C.-   Filament:    -   -   Length.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Color.—Between White Group RHS 155C and 155D.-   Pistils:    -   -   Number.—15 to 30.        -   Length beyond perianth.—About 1 mm.-   Stigma:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Size.—Less than 1 mm.-   Style:    -   -   Length.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Color.—Between Yellow Group RHS 8B and 8C.-   Ovaries:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Length.—Between 1 to 10 mm.        -   Width.—Between 1 to 10 mm.        -   Color.—The top color is Yellow Group RHS 9A, the bottom            color is Yellow-Green Group RHS 150B.-   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility/resistance to diseases    noticed to date.    -   -   Pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility/resistance to            pests noticed to date.        -   Heat tolerance.—No heat tolerance.        -   Hardiness.—Not hardy.        -   Flowering.—In general, the time from planting to first            flowering takes eight weeks.        -   Lastingness.—About two weeks on the plant.        -   Fragrance.—None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘AliceSprings’ as herein described and illustrated.